Chapter 84

Chapter 84

"Mind your own business!" The 'buddy' trailing Blondie glared menacingly at Chen Ji. His body was bloated, face dark and bruised, and his belly protruded grotesquely, as if he were nine months pregnant. Eerie bulges would occasionally ripple across his skin, as if a real infant stirred within.

Chen Ji remained calm and composed, completely unfazed by the terrifying sight. He offered a cigarette. The 'buddy' paused, then took it from Chen Ji's hand. "Thanks!"

Chen Ji rubbed his fingers. Second Master Huang, ever cooperative, lit both their cigarettes. Chen Ji began, "We're all reasonable people. That young man has been making offerings to you for days. Even if it's not a debt of gratitude, it's certainly not an enmity. There's no need to cling to the kid, wouldn't you agree, brother?"

The male ghost took a drag, his bloated face contorting into a grotesque pleasure. He bared his yellowed teeth. "He voluntarily offered me blood sacrifices. How can he just stop whenever he pleases?"

Second Master Huang sneered, "Why bother reasoning with him? This water ghost has clearly marked that kid, intending to drag him down as a replacement."

The male ghost chuckled ominously, "A water ghost seeking a replacement is only natural! Even the Jade Emperor himself wouldn't have a word to say!"

"It's only because this kid has been offering me blood sacrifices that I'm letting him live a few more days!"

The implication was clear: as long as the blood sacrifices continued, he wouldn't kill Blondie as a replacement. The moment they ceased, he would drag Blondie into the water.

"I remember it's been many years since anyone drowned around here," Chen Ji said, turning to the water ghost. "Where did you come from, brother?"

"None of your business where I came from," the water ghost retorted, taking another drag. He eyed Chen Ji with ill intent. "I've already made up my mind. If you want me to spare that Blondie, you'll have to take his place as my replacement—"

"Argh!" Before he could finish, the water ghost let out a piercing scream. The cigarette in his mouth suddenly exploded, and his massive, grotesque body crashed to the ground. Hair-thin, golden electric currents snaked across his body as he writhed and convulsed. "Damn you! What the hell did you give me...?"

Chen Ji tossed his cigarette to the ground and crushed it underfoot. He then pulled a chicken from a burlap sack. Hadn't he just asked Granny Zhang for two chickens? Granny Zhang, feeling bad for making him come all this way and clear up the matter, refused payment. But with few chickens left, she gave him one rooster and one hen.

Chen Ji glanced at the comb—it was a rooster.

The rooster he pulled out had just enough time to flap its wings twice before Chen Ji wrung its neck. He hadn't brought a knife. "Second Grandpa, make a cut."

Second Master Huang was taken aback by Chen Ji's swift and decisive action. Hearing Chen Ji's request, he extended a front paw. Chen Ji held the paw and made a cut on the chicken's neck. Blood spurted from the wound, hot and gushing. The water ghost, however, reacted as if splashed with acid, his body corroding extensively upon contact.

Though black dog blood would have been effective, for Chen Ji, a rooster was more convenient.

"Ahhh—! It hurts! Please, I know I was wrong—! Please spare me—! I'll leave right now! I'll leave right now!" The water ghost's hulking body thrashed on the ground, splattering yellow, white, and green pus everywhere.

Just as Chen Ji had been unfazed by the water ghost's terrifying appearance earlier, he now remained indifferent to its agonized screams.

Since talks had broken down, there was nothing left to discuss. Once he dealt with this matter, he was eager to return to the mountain to stew the chicken.

Before long, the water ghost fell silent. Chen Ji asked Second Master Huang, "Second Grandpa, is it dead?"

Second Master Huang twitched his lip. "Its soul has scattered completely."

Chen Ji was about to say the body was still lying there intact, but then he watched the water ghost dissolve into a wisp of smoke and vanish.

Chen Ji nodded in satisfaction and patted Second Master Huang's head. "Second Grandpa, let's head back to the mountain. The chicken is dead. If we don't cook it soon, it won't be fresh anymore."

Second Master Huang manifested his Dharma Form. Enough talk, get on! Let's go home and eat chicken!

***

A streak of black lightning shot toward them from afar. Even from a distance, Taoist Master Qingjing could sense it was a powerful demon. He tightened his grip on the talisman in his hand, growing cautious. Xiaoqing Mountain was too strange; he didn't know if the newcomer was friend or foe...

...Wait, why should he be afraid? He could just call Chen Ji first!

As a local, Chen Ji would know best!

Soon, Chen Ji answered the video call. The scenery behind him blurred into streaks of color, and below, black hairs fluttered in the wind. Chen Ji asked, "What's up?"

"Nothing," Taoist Master Qingjing sighed in relief and sat back down on the steps, crossing his legs. "I'm waiting for you at your doorstep."

Chen Ji didn't want to speak—opening his mouth would just let the wind in—so he nodded and hung up.

Not long after, Taoist Master Qingjing saw the massive demon stop in front of him. He looked up, staring dumbfounded at the large bow tied behind Second Master Huang, struggling to process what he was seeing.

Second Master Huang growled, "What are you staring at?!"

Taoist Master Qingjing gave a thumbs-up. "That ribbon looks really nice!"

Second Master Huang immediately softened his tone. "You bet! You've got good taste, little bull-nose! Chen Ji bought it for me! Isn't it pretty? It cost ¥180! So expensive!"

Taoist Master Qingjing was at a loss for words. He watched as Chen Ji slid off Second Master Huang's back and sighed in relief. "My grandmaster asked me to bring you something."

"Let's talk inside," Chen Ji said.

Taoist Master Qingjing knew that the Mountain Lord's statue was covered with silk, so he wasn't too nervous—he was invited in, bringing gifts, visiting a friend. It was perfectly reasonable. Surely the Mountain Lord here wouldn't lure him in just to kill him, right? He had people backing him up, after all!

It was only then that Taoist Master Qingjing noticed the sack in Chen Ji's hand. A bright red stain had soaked through one corner of the sack, and fresh blood dripped from it, emitting a strong, metallic smell.

Taoist Master Qingjing sniffed sharply. "What are you carrying?"

It couldn't be... human remains, could it?

Chen Ji was a bit of an odd character, probably because of Xiaoqing Mountain. Even though he was good-looking and had a decent temper, he didn't exactly give off a wholesome vibe.

Perhaps because of his blindness, his eyes had reached a point where normal people would find them unsettling—dark, heavy, with no light in them at all. In his own words, they were "the eyes of a dead man."

Under these circumstances, if it were anyone else, the sack could contain either a pig or a chicken. But with Chen Ji's current demeanor, if it were a chicken, people would suspect he had twisted its neck with his bare hands; if it were pork, they'd suspect he was about to take a raw bite out of it... as if at any moment, Chen Ji might look up, his face and mouth covered in blood, and say, "Raw meat is delicious, you should try some." It was downright creepy.

—So what were those three from S City thinking, daring to mess with him?

...Maybe they were into that sort of thing?

Chen Ji made no effort to lower his eyes or hide his gaze in front of Taoist Master Qingjing. What was the point? It wasn't like Taoist Master Qingjing hadn't seen it before.

He led Taoist Master Qingjing inside. Taoist Master Qingjing, knowing the proper etiquette, went to the main hall to offer incense, making his presence known. After leaving the main hall, he saw Chen Ji sitting under the corridor and was about to speak when Chen Ji waved him over. "Come check my pulse."

Taoist Master Qingjing's medical skills were average, but he could still tell good from bad. He took Chen Ji's pulse and immediately looked at him in surprise—if an ordinary person had a pulse like Chen Ji's, they probably wouldn't even be able to get out of bed.

His first words were, "Did you really get gang-raped?"

How else could his pulse be so weak if he hadn't suffered severe injuries? In just one day and night, how had Chen Ji's pulse deteriorated so drastically?!

"Get lost," Chen Ji said without even looking up. He gently lifted the hem of his robe, elegantly crossed his legs, and brushed off his clothes. The long gown he wore today suited him well, giving off the vibe of a scholar from the Republican era—quiet and refined. He added, "I'm not stupid."

"Then what happened?" Taoist Master Qingjing continued feeling his pulse. "This isn't just a case of severe exhaustion—you've damaged your foundation. It's like when you run: first, you use your strength, and when that runs out, you rely on willpower. But no matter how strong your will is, your body has its limits. Once you exceed those limits, you start damaging your foundation."

Chen Ji nodded calmly. "I wasn't like this this morning."

"Then what happened?"

"After I returned, I did two unusual things. First, I practiced drawing talismans for a while. Second, I went down to the village and saw a young man followed by something unclean. I casually patted his shoulder and helped disperse the negative energy around him."

Taoist Master Qingjing was stunned, both angry and amused. "Seriously, has no one taught you?"

"Taught me what?" Chen Ji retorted.

He was self-taught, after all. He had learned these things only to protect himself. Who would teach him? Chen Ji glanced toward the main hall—if the being inside didn't kill him, that was already a mercy. How could he expect it to teach him?

Taoist Master Qingjing sat down beside Chen Ji and explained patiently: "Drawing talismans inherently requires focusing your mind and gathering energy. Completing a single talisman consumes significant energy. Written characters are manifestations of one’s vital essence and spirit. In your current weakened state, it’s not suitable for you to engage in such activities."

"Moreover, when you helped someone dispel negative energy by patting, how did you think it worked? Did you really believe a simple pat would make it vanish naturally?" Taoist Master Qingjing gave an example: "If there’s dust on your clothes, you pat it away using strength to create vibrations and airflow. But negative energy is intangible. To dispel it, you’re not using strength—you’re using your vital energy."

He shrugged. "Your body was already weak. Doing two things in a row that drain your essence and spirit, especially when they were already depleted, of course drains your lifespan."

Chen Ji nodded in understanding. "Can it be treated?"

"Of course," Taoist Master Qingjing said. "I’ll go back and have the grandmaster write a prescription for you, along with some well-aged good medicine. Take them for a year or so, and you’ll be fine."

Chen Ji suddenly raised a hand to stop him. "Good medicine? I might have some."

Taoist Master Qingjing: "…?"

What in the world? The prescription hasn’t even been written yet—how does he already have the medicine?!

He watched as Chen Ji stood up, entered the main hall, offered incense, and then softly spoke to the Mountain Lord about the herbs he needed...

Taoist Master Qingjing: "…???"